Inbound Chinese tourism requires specialist knowledge and careful management and should not be seen as "the goose that lays the golden eggs" a leading independent Scots travel agent has warned.

Janice Dickson, whose company Ian Dickson Travel celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, issued the warning in advance of the inaugural Hainan Airlines direct flights between Beijing and Edinburgh, which begin on 12 June.

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The much-anticipated link, subject of intense commercial and government level negotiation over the past five years, has been hailed by the Scottish Chamber of Commerce as a potential "game-changer" in Scotland's drive to increase trade with the world's second largest economy.

Mrs Dickson was present at China's first ever international tourism conference, held in Tiananmen Square's The Great Hall of the People in 1980, and with her late husband Ian, was a pioneer in the gradual opening of China to foreign tourists, and the handling of official and private Chinese travel to the UK.

She facilitated the press contingent that organised the first visit to China by HM The Queen in 1986, and an official visit to China by Edinburgh City Council in 1987. Ian Dickson Travel also supported last months' successful Scottish Chambers of Commerce Trade Mission to Beijing and Shandong Province.

Ian Dickson Travel has witnessed at close quarters the seismic revolution in the accessibility of China

Ian Dickson Travel has witnessed at close quarters the seismic revolution in the accessibility of China, from days when coal-dust shrouded Beijing was a city of bicycles, everyone wore Mao suits and foreign tours were strictly controlled, and tourists were forced to use foreign exchange tokens (pictured) as currency, much sought-after by Chinese black-market operators.

The £3m turnover company, based in Edinburgh's New Town, has 75% business clientele, and in the past has worked with major events such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the 6 Nations Rugby.

Janice Dickson said: "The new route is a definite breakthrough, but people in travel and retail businesses should be aware that handling Chinese tourism is not straightforward and it's not the goose that lays the golden eggs. The Chinese are excellent partners, and very good to deal with, but you just need to know the market and you need to have people who know the market to avoid getting yourself into difficulties. Above all you need to be flexible."

Cultural differences or "different ways of doing things" could cause problems to UK operators with Chinese guests, she said, She cited issues over last-minute cancellations, difficulties in ensuring payment, rules about permissible driving hours, language and translation problems and in-room provisions in hotels as areas where education was needed.

1. Be flexible

It's quite a challenging market mainly because of differences in attitudes to forward planning. UK people tend to book holidays far in advance - they don't. Be prepared to make changes at the last moment. They will want to stay longer in one place, or skip another, go with it. This especially applies to the golf industry, as golf is an elite game have been caught short on it because Golf is an elite game in China and people who play it think they can change things just like that.

2. Be aware of price-consciousness

Chinese customers are very price-conscious about accommodation and food. They want to spend their money shopping.

3. Stick to the rules

Be clear and upfront about UK and EU rules on drivers' hours, as these are not the same thing in China. Tour companies in Scotland have fallen foul of the Chinese tendency to add extra trips without considering that we have rules about how long drivers can work for, including time to and from their homes.

4. Have the Chinese speakers in place

Ensure access to a good network of Chinese-speaking assistants and driver-guides, which are the preference of most Chinese tour operators. Most groups are up to 16 people. Also helps to have Chinese speaking staff on hotel reception desks, as there can be problems on check in.

5. Be prepared for seasonality

The influx of Chinese tourists on the new flight is unlikely to be a year-round phenomenon, judging from the experience of Manchester, which has a daily Hainan Airlines flight. This is the experience from talking to colleagues in Manchester where they have a daily flight,

6. Have Chinese-language instructions in rooms

Watch out for electric kettles, as these are not familiar to some Chinese guests, who have attempted to put things in them to boil. Also, Chinese people do not tend to consume Pot Noodles, which some hoteliers misguidedly leave for them, thinking they will feel at home.

7. Be clear about receipts

Some Chinese operators will ask tour company partners for receipts for sums that are different from what they have paid (usually in cash), which is acceptable in China - albeit unofficially - but is classed as false accounting in UK.

8. Check the paperwork

Don't pay hotel deposits on behalf of Chinese groups until you know for certain they have obtained passports and visas, as it can be difficult to recover any cancellation fees from Chinese clients. It is important to press for definite dates and a deposit in order to hold hotel accommodation, especially in a popular tourist city like Edinburgh.

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9. Tips on tips

Although China itself is a no-tip culture, the same does not apply amongst Chinese guides and drivers where it is obligatory to set aside £3 per guest per day plus meals

10. Be e-payment savvy

Ensure you are up to speed with Chinese e-payment systems WeChat Pay and AliPay. Many Chinese have lost the habit of using cash, and have leapfrogged the use of plastic with smartphone-enabled payment systems.